Business school admissions are extremely competitive, with schools looking for the right mix of experience, undergraduate grades, and GMAT test scores.
But to get into the top programs, you must not only prove yourself academically capable, but also demonstrate you have certain personality traits that signal to schools you will be an exemplary business professional.
Stacy Blackman, an MBA admissions consultant with 16 years of experience, told Business Insider that the number one quality business schools want look for from candidates are proven leadership skills.
"Leadership is huge," Blackman said. That means more than simple membership in a group, she continued. Business schools want applicants who seek to go a step further, actively leading and attracting other members to their groups.
And schools don't want to see only one type of leadership, according to Blackman. They want a diversity of experiences. So applicants should demonstrate their leadership qualities in whatever drives their passions, whether that be in their friendships, in the classroom, or in their athletic endeavors.
But without the right academic achievements, qualitative measures alone won't cut it. The top business programs accept applicants who have competitive GMAT scores and show strong undergraduate performance.
Take a look below at the top 10 business programs ranked by US News & World Report, and the average scores that got students there.
Mike Nudelman/Business Insider
